Sliding current-collector.



PATENTED MAY 19, 1908.

A. H. ARMSTRONG. SLIDING CURRENT COLLECTOR.

APPLICATION FILED AUGJ8, 1906.

WITNESSES- 6 INvE NTEIR- N D U4 m m M n R ALBERT H. ARMSTRONG, or

COMPANY,

SOHENECTADY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

GENERAL ELECTRIC SLIDING CURRENT-COLLECTOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 1 9, 1908.

Application filed August 6, 1906. Serial No. 329,296.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, STRONG, a citizen of the United States, residing at Schenectady, county of Schenectady, State of New Yorlghave invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sliding Ourrent-Colle'ctors, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to electric railways, andmore especially to the contact devices carried by the vehicles for collecting current from a stationary conductor suspended parallel to the road way.

When currents of large volume are transmitted to an electric locomotive or other vehicle ofgreat' power the ordinary grooved wheel trolley is ob'ectionable on ac count of the excessive spariring which occurs between it and the stationary conductor due to the inadequate area of contact between such parts. Accordingly, it is the present practice on vehicles re uiring large volumes of current to provide a s iding contact having ample area of contact with the stationary conductor. These slidin contacts have been made with considerable length with the intent to provide a large surface to sustain the wear due to the frictional action of the stationary conductor thereon, but it is the rule rather than the exception that one or more depressions are soon formed across the contact which tend to prevent the conductor from engaging the contact at any other line and as a consequence one or more deep ruts or grooves are soon cut in the surface of the contact, so that renewals are frequently required although the greater portion of the contact may be good as new.

The object of my invention is to provide a contact device so constructed that by a simple adjustment any cutting or rutting in its working surface may be cured.

In the accompanying drawing which forms a part of this s medication, I. have shown one enibodimento my invention.

Figure 1 is a perspective. view of my contact device mounted upon the root of an ordi nary passenger car. Fig. 2 is a side elevaiion of the contact device and Fig. 3 is a top plan thcreol.

The stand construction and mounted in jner upon the rooi oi the car.

1 and the pole 2 are oi ordinary the usual inan- At the upper l end of the pole 2 is secured a hinge block 3 ALBERT H. ARM- with a pin 4 on which is mounted a bracket 5 that is normally restrained by suitable means such as springs 6. These parts constitute the supporting means for my improved contact and the articular construction thereof shown in the diawing is in no way essential to the use of my device.

My contact device comprises a rectangular contact frame 7 bolted at its center to the bracket 5, and having side webs 8 rising i slightly above its upper surface and retaining flanges 9 at its ends which extend upwardly to be and are folded over the end portions of the upper surface of the frame. 4 In the space between the side webs 8 are disposed a plurality of parallel contact bars 10 of a thickness to extend above the webs 8 and of a length to be retained by the overhanging flanges 9,. but short enough to permit of longitudinal movement. The means for ef fecting the longitudinal positioning of the contact bars 10 consists of set screws 11 tapped through the end flanges 9 and abutting against the ends ol the bars so that in case of a groove having been cut out by the stationary conductor in the several bars 10 it is only necessary to turn back a screw 11 at one end of a bar 10 and turn 11 the screw 11 at the opposite end of the same bar and thereby interrupt the continuity of the groove as indicated at 1 2 in Fig. 3. When another groove shall have been cut in the contact bars in their new positions, the bar that was first moved or either of the others may be readjusted to interrupt the groove so as to prevent the stationary conductor from being confined to that particular part of the contact.

I do not desire to restrict myself to the particular form or arrangement of parts, since it is apparent that they may be changed and modilied without departing from my invention.

Vv'hat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is,

l. The combination with a railway contact device, of means for interrupting the continuity of grooves or ruts worn therein by the action of the stationary conductor.

2. In a railway current collector, the combination of a divided contact surface, an means for longitudinally adjusting the component parts of said surface relatively to i each other.

g esegeez 3. In a railway current collector the comextending through said flanges and. engaging blnation of a frame, a lurality of parallel said bars. 10 contact bars sup orted hy said frame, and In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my means for severa y adjusting said "bars. hand this fourth day of August, 1906. 5 4. In a current coflector, the combination ALBERT H. ARMSTRONG.

of a frame having overhanging endflanges, a Witnesses:

lurality of parallel bars retained in said EDWARD WILLIAMS, J12,

. rame by said flanges, and adjustable screws v BENJAMIN B. HULL. 

